But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. Matthew 25:5-7.
The bridegroom was delayed. He arrives at midnight, the darkest hour, the moment in which no one expected, the moment when all were asleep.
Such is the condition of the world now, darkened by confusion, pain, suffering, sin and death. The light of God has been rejected because many prefer the darkness.
The coming of the bridegroom was at midnight--the darkest hour. So the coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of this earth's history. The days of Noah and Lot pictured the condition of the world just before the coming of the Son of man. The Scriptures pointing forward to this time declare that Satan will work with all power and "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:9, 10. His working is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darkness, the multitudinous errors, heresies, and delusions of these last days. Not only is Satan leading the world captive, but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight, impenetrable as sackcloth of hair. To God's people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth's sake. But out of that night of darkness God's light will shine.*
In the midst of such darkness it is sometimes difficult to see the light of God. Our eyes of faith are covered by the tears that this world produces. The difficulties encountered at midnight create the darkest period in human history. But the light of God never ceases to shine.
Although, all were asleep 5 of the lamps were still burning.
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matthew 25:4.
In the parable the wise virgins had oil in their vessels with their lamps. Their light burned with undimmed flame through the night of watching. It helped to swell the illumination for the bridegroom's honor. Shining out in the darkness, it helped to illuminate the way to the home of the bridegroom, to the marriage feast.*
So the followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the world. Through the Holy Spirit, God's word is a light as it becomes a transforming power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of His glory--His character--is to shine forth in His followers. Thus they are to glorify God, to lighten the path to the Bridegroom's home, to the city of God, to the marriage supper of the Lamb.*
Do not forget that the throughout all of eternity, God has always been the source of light.
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:2, 3.
God's light is never fades away and while the enemy tries to cover it, through Jesus, it can continue to shine bright in our lives.
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6.
Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; BUT THE LORD WILL ARISE OVER YOU, AND HIS GLORY WILL BE SEEN UPON YOU. Isaiah 60:1, 2.
What beautiful hope. Even when all seems lost, when we are in our most desperate condition, the rays of heavenly light can penetrate into our lives. They make us lift our eyes towards heaven. Perhaps our tears will not yet be completely wiped away, but it places a peace in our hearts and a security that soon He will come wipe away our tears once and for all.
It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth.*
Such was the work for which Jesus came to this world. He came to reveal the glory of the Father, to make known His character. Through Him we come to the Father.
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. John 14:7.
Christ, the outshining of the Father's glory, came to the world as its light. He came to represent God to men…In the synagogue at Nazareth He said,
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. Luke 4:18, 19.
This was the work He commissioned His disciples to do.
You are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14, 16.
This is the work which the prophet Isaiah describes when he says,
"Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Isaiah 58:7, 8.
What The World Needs Now
God’s people, His church, His children must all be light unto the world.
Thus in the night of spiritual darkness God's glory is to shine forth through His church in lifting up the bowed down and comforting those that mourn.*
All around us are heard the wails of a world's sorrow. On every hand are the needy and distressed. It is ours to aid in relieving and softening life's hardships and misery.*
The Lord left the necessary tools at our disposal so that we may share the light of hope to the souls in need.
There are many from whom hope has departed. Bring back the sunshine to them. Many have lost their courage. Speak to them words of cheer. Pray for them. There are those who need the bread of life. Read to them from the word of God. Upon many is a soul sickness which no earthly balm can reach nor physician heal. Pray for these souls, bring them to Jesus. Tell them that there is a balm in Gilead and a Physician there. *
Not that the world deserves it. Not that we deserve such mercy. We receive this gift because of God’s great love for us. A love capable of giving up the best of heaven to save us. The defeated enemy cannot interrupt such a heavenly link.
Light is a blessing, a universal blessing, pouring forth its treasures on a world unthankful, unholy, demoralized. So it is with the light of the Sun of Righteousness. The whole earth, wrapped as it is in the darkness of sin, and sorrow, and pain, is to be lighted with the knowledge of God's love. From no sect, rank, or class of people is the light shining from heaven's throne to be excluded.*
The message of hope and mercy is to be carried to the ends of the earth. Whosoever will, may reach forth and take hold of God's strength and make peace with Him, and he shall make peace. No longer are the heathen to be wrapped in midnight darkness. The gloom is to disappear before the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The power of hell has been overcome. *
I must emphasize two very important points. We reflect the light that is God. For us to be good people simply isn’t enough. Everything comes from God.
But no man can impart that which he himself has not received. In the work of God, humanity can originate nothing. No man can by his own effort make himself a light bearer for God. It was the golden oil emptied by the heavenly messengers into the golden tubes, to be conducted from the golden bowl into the lamps of the sanctuary, that produced a continuous bright and shining light. It is the love of God continually transferred to man that enables him to impart light. Into the hearts of all who are united to God by faith the golden oil of love flows freely, to shine out again in good works, in real, heartfelt service for God.*
Note that we are simply tools that God can use to shine through. We are divine agents. We too are being illuminated while enlightening others. Our efforts will fail if that heavenly light does not work in us first. We are like the moon reflecting light from the sun of righteousness.
Christ does not bid His followers strive to shine. He says, Let your light shine. If you have received the grace of God, the light is in you. Remove the obstructions, and the Lord's glory will be revealed. The light will shine forth to penetrate and dispel the darkness. You cannot help shining within the range of your influence.*
Source Of Power
God has always been and remains the source of power. Our Father is more than willing to pour upon us the power of the Holy Spirit. But we do not want it. We do not pray for its anointment.
In the great and measureless gift of the Holy Spirit are contained all of heaven's resources. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If all were willing to receive, all would become filled with His Spirit.*
Much of this has to do with our own spiritual condition. It has to do with the lack of commitment we have with God, with the lack of love we have other souls, with small desire and need currently have to be in heaven.
The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin; it means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with the graces of the Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a heart emptied of self, and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. When Christ reigns in the soul, there is purity, freedom from sin. The glory, the fullness, the completeness of the gospel plan is fulfilled in the life. The acceptance of the Saviour brings a glow of perfect peace, perfect love, perfect assurance. The beauty and fragrance of the character of Christ revealed in the life testifies that God has indeed sent His Son into the world to be its Saviour.*
Heaven On Standby
It is the privilege of every soul to be a living channel through which God can communicate to the world the treasures of His grace, the unsearchable riches of Christ. There is nothing that Christ desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and character. There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour's love. All heaven is waiting for channels through which can be poured the holy oil to be a joy and blessing to human hearts.*
May we be part of the wise group, part of the group that has enough oil to shine throughout the last night of this world. Midnight is nearing its end; the glorious morning is almost here. May we be of those invited to the marriage supper of the lamb.
JESUS IS COMING SOON, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!
*Christ’s Object Lessons, "To Meet The Bridegroom", Ellen g. White
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